Rifle

ABSTRACT

A rifle of the type which exploits pressure of the exploding gases for cocking the same, with the rifle operating in a semi or fully automatic state and including cooperating safety features which permit firing only upon correctly positioned structural parts.

United States Patent [191 [111 3,785,243 Christakos Jan. 15, 1974 RIFLE Prima ExaminerSte hen C. Bentle [76] Inventor: Nlcolaos C. Chrlstakos, 2832 N. P y

Austin Ave., Chicago, 111. 60634 Awney-rEdward Threedy [22] Filed: Jan. 19, 1973 Appl. No; 325,089

[52] US. Cl. 89/149, 89/142 [51] Int. Cl. F411! 11/02 [58] Field of Search 89/142, 149

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 618,743 [[1899 Silverman 89/149 [57] ABSTRACT A rifle of the type which exploits pressure of the exploding gases for cocking the same, with the rifle operating in a semi or fully automatic state and including cooperating safety features which permit firing only upon correctly positioned structural parts.

8 Claims, 29 Drawing Figures sum 3 OF 3 PATENTEB JAN] 5 I974 RIFLE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A rifle which is self-cocking under the contained pressure of the exploding gases of a previously fired round of ammunition, which includes a bolt carriage housing and firing pin, both of which are adapted for reciprocal movement in a linear path within a loading and firing chamber, with the release of the firing pin accomplished only after the bolt carriage has properly moved through the chamber into a firing position. The rifle may be conditioned to fire in a semi or fully automatic state, depending upon the selection of the controlling sear. The rifle is of the hammerless type, with the firing pin being spring-urged and released upon actuation of the trigger only when the bolt carriage is correctly positioned.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred embodiment of the improvements and their structural relation one to the other, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the rifle;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the fully assembled receiver group;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the lower receiver group;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the upper receiver p;

FIG. 5 is a view of the reverse side of the upper re ceiver group;

FIG. 6 is a sectional detail veiw of the upper receiver group;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the upper receiver group;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the bolt carriage assist side leaf;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the parts of the bolt carriage assist side leaf;

FIG. 10 is a partially exploded view of the firing pin assembly;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the bolt carriage;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of one end of the action rod;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view ofa partially assembled bolt carriage;

FIG. 14 is a composite view of the firing pin of the invention;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the firing pin safety lever;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the safety block associated with the rifle;

FIG. 17 is a partial perspective view of certain parts of the invention in operative relation during cocking of the rifle;

FIG. 18 is a partial perspective view of certain parts of the invention in a cocked position;

FIG. 19 is a side elevational sectional view of the lower receiver group of the rifle;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the sear mechanism;

FIG. 21 is a top elevational view of the sear mechanism in an operated position;

FIG. 22 is an exploded view of certain parts of the sear mechanism;

FIG. 23 is a side elevational view of the trigger control lever;

FIG. 24 is a top plan view of the trigger control lever;

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the selection lever;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the ejector lever and safety arm;

FIG. 27 is a composite view of certain portions of the rear sight mechanism;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of certain parts associated with the rear sight assembly;

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the cartridge keeper.

As viewed in FIG. 1, the rifle 10 includes the normal stock 11, barrel 12, front hand grips 13, charging gas tube 14, front sight assembly 15, and the receiver group 16.

The receiver group 16 shown enlargedin FIG. 2, consists of the generally U-shaped upper receiver housing 17 mounted upon and removably attached by suitable means 18 to the lower receiver group 19, as shown in FIG. 3.

The upper receiver housing 17 includes an internally threaded boss 20 which receives one end of the barrel 12. The right-hand side wall 21 of the upper receiver housing 17 is provided with an elongated slot 22 and a second reduced slot 23. The left-hand side wall 24 of the housing 17 is likewsie provided. with a slot 25. The inner confronting surfaces of the walls 21 and 24 have formed thereon aligned grooves 26, 27 and 28 for a purpose hereinafter made apparent.

When the upper and lower receiver groups 17 and 19 are mounted upon themselves, they will provide a chamber for the bolt carriage, firing pin, and trigger control assembly, all of which will be hereinafter more specifically described.

Adapted to be associated with the rifle 10 is a magazine (not shown) which is adapted to be projected upwardly through an open area 29 formed in the lower receiver group 19, as shown in FIG. 1.9. This magazine is adapted to be held in place by a spring-urged latch 30 pivotally mounted on a pin 31 extending between the side walls of the lower receiver group 19. This magazine, as normally understood, will present a cartridge into a suitable loading area provided by the upper receiver group 17.

Referring to FIG. 13, there is shown a bolt carriage 32. This bolt carriage is generally rectangularly shaped and provides horizontal side flanges 33 and 34 which are extensions of the top wall of the bolt carriage 32. These flanges 33 and 34 are adapted to project into the grooves 27 formed in the confronting inner wall surfaces of the upper receiver housing 17 such that the bolt carriage 32 is slidably movable therethrough.

The bolt carriage 32 provides a circular interior bore 35 opened at the rear end thereof, and having a port 35 at its closed forward end 36. Positioned within the interior of the bolt carriage 32 is the firing pin 37 and its actuating spring 38. The arrangement is such that the firing pin 37 is partially hollowed out and has formed in opposite sides thereof elongated slots 39. These slots 39 are adapted to receive the shank 40 of the retainer pin 41, which is adapted to be projected through the side walls of the bolt carriage 32, and which is adapted to pass through an opening 42 formed in a spring retainer 43 journalled in and closing the open end of the hollow firing pin 37. By this arrangement, the firing pin 37 is adapted to be held in a predetermined position under spring tension while the bolt carriage 32 moves through the housing 17 in a manner hereinafter described.

The top of the bolt carriage 32 has formed therein a recessed area 44, with the bottom wall of the recess provided with an elongated slot 45 which has open communication with the interior bore 35 of the bolt carriage 32. A portion of one side wall which defines the recess 44 consists of an elongated substantially flat pivotal lever 46 which has a preformed edge shoulder 47 which faces into the area of the recess 44 and a cam surface 48 formed on its opposite edge and which may, depending upon the position of the lever 46, project outwardly from the side flange 34 of the bolt carriage 32, in the manner shown in FIG. 18 and for a purpose hereinafter described.

Extending transversely to the longitudinal length of the bolt carriage 32 and to a depth slightly beyond the thickness of the side flanges 33 and 34, is a groove 49. The bottom wall 50 of this groove 49, as well as a portion of the forward top wall 51 of the bolt carriage 32 and the front wall 52 which define the forward end of the recess area 44, has cut therein a groove 53 which extends in alignment with and has open communication with the slot 45 formed in the bottom wall of the recess 44.

Adapted to be mounted in the groove 53 and the slot 45, is a latch pin 54, as shown in FIG. 15. The forward end 55 of the latch pin 54 has its underside notched as at 56 and is adapted to receive therein a coil spring 57. An upstanding shoulder 58 is provided on the latch pin 54, which is apertured as at 59 and adapted to receive a connecting pin 60, which is adapted to be projected through an opening 61 formed through the side edge of the flanges 33 and 34. By this arrangement, the latch 54 is pivotally positioned in the slot 53, with the spring 57 thereof urging the latch in an upward direction beyond the top surface of the top wall of the bolt carriage 32 and correspondingly with the tail 62 of the latch 54, inwardly of the slot 45.

The rear end portion of a charging rod 63 associated with the rifle is partially shown in FIGS. l2, l7 and 18. As such, the charging rod 63 includes a bolt lever 64 extending laterally from one side, and a guide rail 65' (FIGS. 17 and 18) extending laterally from the opposite side, both of which are adapted to be slidably contained within the grooves 26, with the lever 64 projected out of the slot 22 formed in the right-hand wall 21 of the upper receiver housing 17. The charging rod 63 also provides a depending block 65 which is longitudinally slotted as at 66. This block 65 is of a size to sit in the recess 44 formed in the top surface of the bolt carriage 32, with its slot 66 in alignment with the slot 45, thus positioning the charging rod 63 onto the bolt carriage 32 as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. This charging rod 63 is adapted to be moved longitudinally through the receiver group 16 either manually by being pulled therethrough by utilizing the bolt lever 64, or by explosion gases from a previously fired cartridge, in a manner well known in the art. The action of the charging rod 63 is against an internal spring arrangement which restores it to a normal position, i.e., that condition of the rifle wherein a cartrodge is in position to be fired. The action of the charging rod 63 is important to this invention only in relation to its moving and positioning both the bolt carriage 32 and firing pin 37.

To initially load the rifle the charging rod 63 is manually moved rearwardly through the slot 22 formed in the side of the receiver group 16. The block 65 will move rearwardly in the recess 44 formed in the top wall of the bolt carriage 32 and when it contacts the rear wall of such recess, the bolt carriage 32 will move rearwardly in the chamber provided in the upper receiver housing 17. Upon release of the lever 64 of the charging rod 63, it will move forward, returning to its original position. Such forward movement of the charging rod 63 will effect corresponding forward movement of the bolt carriage 32.

As the bolt carriage 32 moves rearwardly, the cam surface of the pivotal lever 46 carried thereon will engage the inner wall surface of a spring cover 67 positioned over the slot 25 formed in the side wall 24 of the upper receiver housing 17.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the spring cover 67 is formed in two parts 68 and 69 hinged together by a pin 70. The rear edge of part 69 is slotted as at 71 to receive a catch 72. The catch 72 has a tongue 73 projecting into a coil spring 74, all of which is then placed in the slotted end of the part 69.

A notch 75 is formed in the top edge of the catch 72 and is adapted to receive the inner end of a pin 76 which holds the same in the slotted end of the part 69 for limited longitudinal movement relative thereto.

Partially about the front edges of the slot 25 is a raised flange 77 behind which the side edges of the part 68 project. The rear edge of the slot 25 is provided with a lip 78 that receives the corresponding edge of the catch 72 when it is moved by its spring 74 therebeneath. Thus, the spring cover 67 is removably connected to the side wall 74 of the upper receiver housing 17.

The shoulder 47 of the pivotal lever 46 will remain in contact with the front edge of the block 65 until the bolt carriage 32 has completely returned to its original position, which is in the forwardmost part of the chamber provided by the upper receiver group 16 as shown in FIG. 17. When the bolt carriage 32 has reached its forwardmost position, the cam surface 48 of the lever 46 will have been pivoted horizontally so as to be seated in a recess 79 formed in the inner wall surface of the part 68 of the spring cover 67. When the lever 46 is so positioned, the rod 63 may continue its forward movement through the recess 44.

It is obvious that if the bolt carriage 32 has not been moved sufficiently forward so that the cam surface 48 is permitted to be projected into the recess 79, continuing forward movement of the charging rod 63 will be prevented.

It is necessary for the bolt carriage 32 as well as the charging rod 63 to return to its forwardmost position in order for the firing of the rifle to be accomplished.

An added safety feature is achieved through the use ofa safety block 80, as viewed in FIGS. 16, 17 and 18. As shown, the safety block 80 is rectangular in shape and provides an internal opening 81 having a reduced passage 82 extending from the top edge of the opening 81. The bottom wall surface of the block 80 is slotted as at 83. The safety block 80 is adapted to be housed in an opening formed in the top wall of the upper receiver housing 17. This opening has communication with grooves 84 formed in the confronting inner side surfaces of the side walls 21 and 24 of the housing 17. The charging rod 63 is of the same shape and adapted to be projected through the opening 81 formed in the safety block 80. As shown in FIGS. 12, 17 and 18, portions of the side edges of the charging rod 63 immediately forward of the lever 64 and lip 65, are notched out so as to provide a recessed median strip 85. This median strip 85 is of a size to be slidably projected into the reduced passage 82 formed in the block 80. In its normal position, the safety block 80 will have the median strip 85 projected through the reduced passage 82, and the safety block 80 will sit into the groove 49 formed transversely across the top wall of the bolt carriage 32. The slot 83 formed in the bottom wall of the safety block 80 will have received the forward top edge portion of the latch pin, pivoting the same against the spring 57, down into the forward portion of the groove 45, this for a purpose hereinafter explained.

As the charging rod 63 and the bolt carriage 32 are moved rearwardly as hereinbefore described, the safety block 80 will ride upwardly on the moving rod 63 as the reduced median strip 85 passes from the reduced passage 82, until the block 80 is positioned on the body of the charging rod 63, as shown in FIG. 18.

Again, in the event that the bolt carriage 32 and the charging rod 63 do not return to the original position as shown in FIG. 18, the safety block 80 will not be forced downwardly into the position shown in FIG. 18, where it bears upon the catch 54. The tail end 62 of the catch 54 which projects inwardly of the slot 45, will, if it is not pivoted upwardly as hereinbefore described, by the action of the moving safety block 80, engage a shoulder 86 formed on the circumference of the firing pin 37 and thus hold it from striking a cartridge which has been by the movement of the bolt carriage 32, removed from the magazine and placed into a firing position.

Referring now to FIG. 19, which'is a side elevational view of the lower receiver group 19' of the rifle and the parts contained therein, it is shown that the lower receiver group 19 provides a trigger guard 87, which has open communication with the interior recess 88 of the lower receiver group 19. Mounted on a pin 89 is a trigger 90. The top edge of the trigger 90 provides a notch 91 which is adapted to receive a bearing 92 provided by one end of a trigger control lever 93. The trigger control lever 93 is mounted upon a pin 94 and includes a spring-urged arm 95 adapted to bear upon an inner shoulder 96. The arrangement is such that the springurged arm 95 will maintain the bearing 92 in contact with the notch 91 of the trigger 90. The forward end 97 of the trigger control lever 93 consists ofa thin arm that bears upon the top wall surface 98 ofa trip lever 99 associated with the main sear structure 100.

The main sear structure 100 is shown in FIG. 22 and consists ofa housing 101 which provides an open-sided recess 102 which receives the forward body portion 103 of the trip lever 99. The housing 101 provides partially raised side walls 102 which have aligned apertures 103 formed therein which receive the mounting pin 104 by which the sear assembly 100 is positioned within the recess 88 of the lower receiver group 19, as shown in FIG. 18. The pin 104 also yieldably connects the firing pin catch lever 105 to the housing 101 in a position where it normally projects upwardly beyond the upper limits of the recess 88 as shown in FIG. 18. The trip lever 99 provides a depending tail portion 106 which has mounted therein a roller 107. This roller 107 is adapted to be moved into contact with the preformed circular body 108 of a selector 109. The circular body 108 of the selector 109 is adapted to be projected through an opening 110 formed in the wall portion of the lower receiver group 19, with the body 108 disposed within the recess 88 provided thereby.

The trip lever 99 is held in the recess 102 formed in the housing 101 of the sear assembly 100, by a pin 111. The inner end of the trip lever 99 is notched as at 112 so as to provide a seat for one end of a coil spring 113 which is placed within and between the notch 112 and the inner side wall of the recess 102. By this arrangement, the trip lever 99 is capable of pivoting out of the normal plane of the sear assembly 100, such as shown in FIG. 21.

When the charging rod 63 moves rearwardly as hereinbefore described and correspondingly moves the bolt carriage 32 rearwardly, the bolt carriage 32 will pass over the firing pin catch lever 105 until a catch 114 formed on the rear end of the firing pin 37 is contacted thereby. Upon the return movement of the charging rod 63 and the bolt carriage 32, the catch lever 105 bearing on the catch 114 will restrain the firing pin 37 from moving forward with the bolt carriage 32 against the tension of its internal coil spring 38 which is compressed by reason of its connection through the spring retainer 43 held by the retainer pin 41 within the interior bore 35 formed in the bolt carriage 32.

For the purpose, let us assume that the rifle through its selector 109 has been set so as to fire semiautomatically. In the condition of the parts previously described, the rifle has been loaded and is ready to be fired. Upon pivotal movement of the trigger against the control lever 93, the sear assembly will be pivotally moved downwardly in the recess 88 of the lower receiver group 19 against its spring 119 a distance sufficient to have the catch lever become disengaged from the firing pin catch 114, permitting the firing pin 37 to be released to move forward under the urging of its coil spring 38 through the bore 35 formed in the bolt carriage 32, until its firing point 116 projects out of the port 35', striking the cartridge which has been placed in firing position by movement of the bolt carriage 32.

As the firing of that cartridge will through its escaping gas automatically move the charging rod 63 and the bolt carriage 32 rearwardly to clear and reload the rifle, the sear assembly 100 must be automatically released so as to permit the catch lever 105 to once again engage the catch 114 on the firing pin 37. This may be accomplished even though the trigger may be continuously held in a pivoted position.

To accomplish this, the following parts cooperate to permit the sear assembly to return to its normal position such as shown in FIG. 18. As the trigger 90 is pivoted and as it pivots the control lever 93 such that its forward arm 97 bears upon the top wall of the trip lever 99, the sear assembly 100 will be pivoted against its spring 115. The downward movement of the sear assembly 100 continues until the roller 107 on the tail 106 of the trip lever 99 engages a cam surface 116 formed on the body 108 of the selector 109. This cam surface 116 will shift the trip lever 99 about the pin 111 and against the action of the spring 113 into the position shown in FIG. 21, where it has become laterally disposed from beneath the forward arm 97 of the control lever 93, such that the whole sear assembly 100 is pivoted about its pin 104 into its original position. Thus, while the rifle is automatically cocked through the employment of the exploding gases of the fired cartridge, it cannot be fired unless a subsequent action of the trigger 90 is performed.

It should be noted that the body 108 of the selector 109 can also be formed to provide a portion which would bear upon the roller 107 when the sear assembly 100 is in its original position, thus fully preventing its downward pivotal movement by the trigger 90. This would be when the selector lever 109 is in a safety position; or the body 108 may be completely removed, such as is the area indicated by 117, at which time the rifle would be in a fully automatic state, with the sear assembly 100 ineffective and with the rifle firing repeatedly as it is cocked and loaded through the escaping gas of the previously fired round.

To secure a cartridge to be fired to the front end of the bolt carriage 32 and in proper alignment with the firing pin port 35, the front end of the carriage 32 is provided with a circular recess 118. This recess 118 has open communication with channels 119 and 120 formed on either side of and across the remaining front wall of the carriage as shown in FIGS. 13, 17 and 18.

A keeper arm 121 is positioned in the channel 119 and has a laterally bent tip 122 extending into one side of the recess 118. This tip is tapered and will permit the circular head flange of a cartridge (not shown) to pass therebeneath into the recess 118 as the carriage 32 moves into contact with the cartridge. Thus, a cartridge is attached to the front end of the carriage 32 and is movable therewith.

To eject a cartridge shell from the rifle, there is provided an ejector assembly 123, shown in FIG. 26. This rejector is adapted to be mounted in the groove 28 on the inner left-hand side of the housing 17. The ejector assembly 123 comprises an ejector pin 124 pivotally connected thereto as at 125 and yieldably projected laterally outwardly of the ejector body by a spring 126. The free end of the ejector pin 124 is adapted to ride in a channel 120 formed on the left-hand side of the body of the carriage 32 (see FIGS. 17 and 18). This channel 120 extends into one side of the circular recess 118 as shown in FIG. 13 and, as such, when the carriage 32 is being moved rearwardly through the housing 17 under the action of the charging rod 63, such pin 124 will engage the exposed surface of the circular head flange of a cartridge attached to the carriage 32 and will be forcibly detached from the keeper arm 121 for exit out of the ejector port 23 formed in the side wall 21 of the housing 17.

As shown in FIG. 26, associated with the ejector assembly 123 is a carriage bolt retainer pin 128. This pin 128 is pivotally carried in the groove 28 provided by the left-hand side wall of the housing 17 and is operable as a safety feature onto the carriage 32 when the rifle is operating under a fully automatic condition.

Shown in FIGS. 27 and 28 are portions of the rear sight assembly which includes an adjustable plate 129 which at one end has pivotally connected thereto on a pin 130 an L-shaped side bracket 131 which provides either a peep sight 132 or a pin sight, depending on which position it is pivoted about the pin 130 relative to the plate 129. A U-shaped bracket assembly 133 consisting of a hollow housing 134 and a spring plate 135 is adapted to be slidably positioned on the sight plate 129, moved longitudinally thereof and relative to its pivotal connection to the top wall of the housing 17 for the purpose of raising or lowering the sight plate 129.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the self-cocking rifle which may be fired either in a semi-automatic or automatic state, includes a plurality of interdependent safety features, all of which prevent defective operation of the firing of the rifle.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A self-cocking rifle including a safety mechanism operable in conjunction with a hammerless trigger and firing pin assembly, wherein the improvement comprises a. a two-part housing providing an internal chamber,

b. an elongated charging rod having a portion movable longitudinally through said housing,

c. a bolt carriage mounted within said chamber of said housing for movement between a loading position and a firing position and providing a center bore extending longitudinally thereof and having an open end,

d. connecting means on said rod in contact with said carriage for moving the same reciprocally through said housing in a substantially linear plane,

e. positioning means on said carriage cooperating with said connecting means and said housing for preventing movement of said rod in one direction until said carriage has been moved thereby into its firing position,

f. a spring-urged firing pin carried within said center bore and movable independently therethrough and the open end of said bolt carriage into and out of firing position,

. a firing pin restraining means pivotally carried by said carriage and having contact with said firing pin for preventing independent movement thereof through said carriage into its firing position, and

h. safety means carried by said housing and movable by said charging rod in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of said rod and said carriage and into contact with said restraining means so as to pivot the same out of restraining contact with said firing pin when said charging rod and said carriage have completed their movement through said housing.

2. A self-cocking rifle as defined by claim 1 wherein said connecting means on said rod in contact with said bolt carriage comprises a substantially rectangularly shaped block adapted to be positioned in an enlarged recess formed in the top surface of said bolt carriage and having limited independent movement therein.

3. A self-cocking rifle as defined by claim 1 wherein said positioning means includes a lever pivotally mounted on top of one side edge of said bolt carriage, said lever pivoted in one direction by an inner wall surface of said housing into binding contact with said charging rod during reciprocal movement of said carriage through said housing by said rod, said lever having a side edge positioned laterally beyond the top edge of said bolt carriage into a confronting recess formed in the side wall of the housing so as to release said charging rod from binding contact therewith so that the latter may have independent movement in one direction through said recess.

4. A self-cocking rifle as defined by claim 2 wherein said positioning means includes a lever pivotally mounted on the top of one side edge of said bolt carriage, said lever being pivotable in one direction by an inner side wall surface of said housing into binding contact with said block carried by said charging rod during independent movement of said block through said recess formed in the top surface of said bolt carriage, said lever adapted to have a side surface positioned laterally beyond the top edge of said carriage into a recess formed in the side wall of said housing so as to release said block from binding contact therewith for continued independent movement through said recess in one direction.

5. A self-cocking rifle as defined by claim 1 wherein said firing pin restraining means comprises a latch plate pivotally carried by said bolt carriage and having a portion projecting into the bore of said bolt carriage for contact with said firing pin for preventing independent movement thereof through the bore of said carriage in one direction, said latch plate having a portion positioned so as to be in contact with said safety mwans when said bolt carriage has been moved into its firing position by said charging rod whereby said safety means may pivot said latch bolt out of contact with said firing pin so that the same may move independently through the bore of said carriage in one direction into its firing position.

6. A self-cocking rifle as defined by claim 1 wherein said safety means carried by said housing comprises a blocking member having an interior opening formed therethrough, with said member positioned in an opening provided by said housing and having said charging rod journalled through its interior opening, with said rod and said blocking member providing cooperating surfaces for slidably moving said member through said opening provided by said housing transversely to said longitudinal movement of said charging rod through said housing, said bolt carriage providing a seat in its top wall surface for said member when said carriage has been moved into its firing position by said charging rod, with said member pivoting said firing pin restraining means out of contact with said firing pin when seated upon said bolt carriage.

7. A self-cocking rifle as defined by claim 1 wherein said safety means carried by said housing comprises a blocking member having an interior opening formed therethrough, with said member positioned in an opening provided by said housing and having said charging rod journalled through its interior opening, with said rod and said blocking member providing cooperating surfaces for slidably moving said member through said opening provided by said housing transversely to said longitudinal movement of said charging rod through said housing, said bolt carriage providing a seat in its top wall surface for said member when said carriage has been moved into its firing position by said charging rod, with said member pivoting said latch plate out of contact with said firing pin when seated upon said bolt carriage.

8. A self'cocking rifle as defined by claim 1 including a pivotal sear for contacting said firing pin after movement thereof in one direction through said housing by said bolt carriage to prevent independent movement of said firing pin in an opposite direction, said sear piv oted by a trigger assembly out of holding contact with said firing pin for independent movement through said bolt carriage when the latter has been moved by said charging rod into its firing position and said firing pin restraining means has been pivoted by said safety means out of contact with said firing pin. 

1. A self-cocking rifle including a safety mechanism operable in conjunction with a hammerless trigger and firing pin assembly, wherein the improvement comprises a. a two-part housing providing an internal chamber, b. an elongated charging rod having a portion movable longitudinally through said housing, c. a bolt carriage mounted within said chamber of said housing for movement between a loading position and a firing position and providing a center bore extending longitudinally thereof and having an open end, d. connecting means on said rod in contact with said carriage for moving the same reciprocally through said housing in a substantially linear plane, e. positioning means on said carriage cooperating with said connecting means and said housing for preventing movement of said rod in one direction until said carriage has been moved thereby into its firing position, f. a spring-urged firing pin carried within said center bore and movable independently therethrough and the open end of said bolt carriage into and out of firing position, f. a firing pin restraining means pivotally carried by said carriage and having contact with said firing pin for preventing independent movement thereof through said carriage into its firing position, and h. safety means carried by said housing and movable by said charging rod in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of said rod and said carriage and into contact with said restraining means so as to pivot the same out of restraining contact with said firing pin when said charging rod and said carriage have completed their movement through said housing.
 2. A self-cocking rifle as defined by claim 1 wherein said connecting means on said rod in contact with said bolt carriage comprises a substantially rectangularly shaped block adapted to be positioned in an enlarged recess formed in the top surface of said bolt carriage and having limited independent movement therein.
 3. A self-cocking rifle as defined by claim 1 wherein said positioning means includes a lever pivotally mounted on top of one side edge of said bolt carriage, said lever pivoted in one direction by an inner wall surface of said housing into binding contact with said charging rod during reciprocal movement of said carriage through said housing by said rod, said lever having a side edge positioned laterally beyond the top edge of said bolt carriage into a confronting recess formed in the side wall of the housing so as to release said charging rod from binding contact therewith so that the latter may have independent movement in one direction through said recess.
 4. A self-cocking rifle as defined by claim 2 wherein said positioning means includes a lever pivotally mounted on the top of one side edge of said bolt carriage, said lever being pivotable in one direction by an inner side wall surface of said housing into binding contact with said block carried by said charging rod during indepenDent movement of said block through said recess formed in the top surface of said bolt carriage, said lever adapted to have a side surface positioned laterally beyond the top edge of said carriage into a recess formed in the side wall of said housing so as to release said block from binding contact therewith for continued independent movement through said recess in one direction.
 5. A self-cocking rifle as defined by claim 1 wherein said firing pin restraining means comprises a latch plate pivotally carried by said bolt carriage and having a portion projecting into the bore of said bolt carriage for contact with said firing pin for preventing independent movement thereof through the bore of said carriage in one direction, said latch plate having a portion positioned so as to be in contact with said safety means when said bolt carriage has been moved into its firing position by said charging rod whereby said safety means may pivot said latch bolt out of contact with said firing pin so that the same may move independently through the bore of said carriage in one direction into its firing position.
 6. A self-cocking rifle as defined by claim 1 wherein said safety means carried by said housing comprises a blocking member having an interior opening formed therethrough, with said member positioned in an opening provided by said housing and having said charging rod journalled through its interior opening, with said rod and said blocking member providing cooperating surfaces for slidably moving said member through said opening provided by said housing transversely to said longitudinal movement of said charging rod through said housing, said bolt carriage providing a seat in its top wall surface for said member when said carriage has been moved into its firing position by said charging rod, with said member pivoting said firing pin restraining means out of contact with said firing pin when seated upon said bolt carriage.
 7. A self-cocking rifle as defined by claim 1 wherein said safety means carried by said housing comprises a blocking member having an interior opening formed therethrough, with said member positioned in an opening provided by said housing and having said charging rod journalled through its interior opening, with said rod and said blocking member providing cooperating surfaces for slidably moving said member through said opening provided by said housing transversely to said longitudinal movement of said charging rod through said housing, said bolt carriage providing a seat in its top wall surface for said member when said carriage has been moved into its firing position by said charging rod, with said member pivoting said latch plate out of contact with said firing pin when seated upon said bolt carriage.
 8. A self-cocking rifle as defined by claim 1 including a pivotal sear for contacting said firing pin after movement thereof in one direction through said housing by said bolt carriage to prevent independent movement of said firing pin in an opposite direction, said sear pivoted by a trigger assembly out of holding contact with said firing pin for independent movement through said bolt carriage when the latter has been moved by said charging rod into its firing position and said firing pin restraining means has been pivoted by said safety means out of contact with said firing pin. 